Majors & Minors

Four courses in Classical Greek, of which one may be GR 220 and at least three must be at the upper-division level.

One additional upper-division course: either Classical Greek or Classics (CLAS).

TOTAL: five courses

The interdisciplinary minor in Classical Perspectives provides immersion in foundational ideas, texts and histories of the Greco-Roman tradition that speak to more contemporary topics and areas of study. How did the Greeks and Romans view love and sexuality, justice and mercy, wisdom and honor, war and peace, glory and shame? What insights might classical perspectives provide into artistic and political choices, professional practices, ethical controversies and social issues in other ages; or, into the study of psychology, sex, gender and sexuality, international relations, race relations, cinema, the sciences, business, theatre or popular culture?

The interdisciplinary 20-unit minor is meant to be easily adapted to any student’s program of study and allows students to double-count General Education and Thematic Option Honors courses. Students choose 20 units from the list below in consultation with a Classics faculty member or staff adviser. No more than 12 units may be taken in any one USC Dornsife department or USC school.

The major in classics has three tracks, with distinct but overlapping emphases. In the Classical Languages and Literatures track, students acquire advanced reading knowledge of one or both classical languages (Greek and Latin) and study the literature of Greece and Rome in historical and cultural context. In the Classical Humanities track, students study Greek and Roman intellectual, literary and aesthetic achievements and their impact on later traditions, while also acquiring basic reading knowledge of one classical language. The Ancient Civilizations track emphasizes study of society, politics and history of Greece, Rome and other civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean world in comparative perspective.

All three tracks emphasize critical thinking as well as practice in written and oral presentation as hallmarks of a liberal arts education.

Requirements for tracks are as follows:

The classics department minor requires one lower-division Classics course or one third-semester Latin or Greek course, and four upper-division Classics, Latin or Greek courses.

The minor in Coaching, Health and Wellness provides students with a foundation in exercise science, athletic coaching and principles of health and wellness. This interdisciplinary program equips students with the knowledge and skills to promote performance, physical fitness, mental well-being and overall health in diverse settings. Whether students aspire to work with athletes, are fitness enthusiasts or seek to improve their wellness, this minor offers a framework for those passionate about fostering healthy lifestyles and peak performance.

Director: Toben Mintz, PhD

Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary major that focuses on the mind and cognition from a variety of perspectives and approaches. The core and electives sample from courses in psychology, philosophy, linguistics, human and evolutionary biology, and computer science.

Cognitive Science Major with Honors 

The cognitive science major with honors requires the student to complete the requirements for the major with a GPA of 3.5 or above and to complete in addition CGSC 498 Honors Thesis with a grade of B or better. Intent to complete the cognitive science major with honors should be registered with the undergraduate adviser no later than the second semester of the junior year. 

The major consists of four fixed core courses, plus two tiers of flexible core courses. Tier 1 generally consists of more introductory courses, and Tier 2 consists of more advanced courses. Students must take two courses from Tier 1 and three courses from Tier 2. We provide suggested tracks through these tiers that allow students to concentrate on one or two subspecialities in this broad interdisciplinary field. Students may choose to focus on one of these tracks, or they may opt to tailor an interdisciplinary curriculum that provides in-depth exploration of a combination of areas. Electives allow students to take courses related to the core areas, but may cover a more specialized or applied area of study.

Students are encouraged to refer to the suggested tracks below, and to consult with their academic adviser.

The minor in comedy is designed to train students in the creation of comedic entertainment in film, television and new media.

Application Procedures

To apply to the minor in comedy, a student must be in good academic standing, have a declared major, and be currently enrolled in or have completed with a passing grade CTWR 404 Foundations of Comedy.

Applicants are required to submit the following materials: (1) Cinematic Arts departmental application, (2) curriculum vitae highlighting comedy experience, and (3) a personal statement of 250 words or less. Applications and admission information can be obtained from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Writing for Screen and Television division, (213) 740-3303.

Course Requirements for the Minor

A total of 16 units is required to complete the comedy minor.

The minor in Comedy (Performance) is a 16-unit minor for students who want to develop their comedic presence for a range of fields. Beginning with a foundation in the history of comic performance, students then select from comedy electives that focus on using improv, stand-up, clowning, and other forms of humor to be more effective and entertaining in any professional setting. The progression of the minor offers students a comprehensive theoretical and experiential education in the many differing disciplines of comedy.

The major in communication gives students theoretical perspectives and applied approaches focused on how people create and use communication to build and sustain systems, persuade others, resist compliance, critically examine challenging real-world problems, and be skilled practitioners in a variety of fields. Students complete foundational courses in social science, rhetoric, and cultural studies before pursuing a wide array of electives that include media, economics, sports, health, and technology. Graduates are prepared for careers ranging from entertainment, marketing, and advertising to sustainability, nonprofit consultancy, and government service in addition to advancing to further study in law school or masters and doctoral programs. 

Course Requirements

The Master of Science in Communication Data Science Dual Degree with Tsinghua University School of Journalism and Communication leads to two Master degrees, one from each institution: a Master of Science in Communication Data Science (a cross-disciplinary joint degree offered by the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism) and a Master of Journalism and Communication from the Tsinghua University (THU) School of Journalism and Communication. The two institutions, USC and THU, have a formal partnership to amplify cooperation between USC and THU and between the United States and China to capitalize on the synergies of the respective curricula and to provide students with the opportunity for a unique transcultural and cross-discipline experience that will position them to be global leaders in their field.

Graduates of the Master of Science in Communication Data Science Dual Degree will be experts in the emerging fields of data science for journalism and communication. In the course of their studies, students will learn about theories and principles underlying human communication and their integration into emerging communication technologies. They will also understand the technical underpinnings of a diverse range of emerging communication platforms, including digital newsrooms, social media, enterprise collaboration systems, and virtual and augmented reality. They will have the capability to build these technologies and effectively manage teams to create effective communication frameworks for a variety of goals. Finally, they will master powerful techniques for analyzing large volumes of data generated by digital communication platforms using machine learning and artificial intelligence.

The dual degrees are subject to the following stipulations: 

1.     The requirements for both degrees must be satisfied to complete the dual degree.

2.     The program description for the Tsinghua University Master of Journalism and Communication is online at https://www.tsjc.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/info/1205/1320.htm.

3.     The general requirements for the MS in Communication Data Science (MS CMDS) in this dual degree program are the same as those for the USC general MS Communication Data Science except that at least 24 units (of the 32 required units) must be completed at USC, and up to 8 units of preapproved course work transferred from Tsinghua University may be counted toward the degree requirements at USC. This is due to a special partnership established by a Memorandum of Understanding between the two Universities. 

4.     Other requirements for the MS CMDS are the same as set forth in the general requirements for Viterbi School of Engineering Master of Science degrees.

5.     Students who elect to receive only the USC degree must change their degree objective from the USC-Tsinghua University dual degree to the general USC MS CMDS.

6.     Generally, students must take at USC the "Foundation" courses of the USC MS CMDS. There must be justification for the omission of a required course in either degree; for example, a certain course in one degree may provide comparable content to the omitted course in the other degree.

7.     The USC Data Science Program and the Annenberg School of Communication have identified a list of transferable THU courses that can be considered USC equivalents but are also willing to entertain transfer, on a case by case basis, of unique relevant THU courses for which no obvious mapping to a USC course exists.

Students with requisite programming knowledge may be allowed to test out of DSCI 510. An entrance exam will be held at three time periods: two weeks before the start of the semester, one week before the start of the semester and during the first week of the semester. Students who pass the exam will be allowed to replace DSCI 510 with an additional elective.